Dominican community leader calls for resignation of island’s general consul

Dominican community leader Luis Aguasvivas (X via Aguasvivas360)

By THE STAR STAFF

Dominican community leader Luis Aguasvivas has issued an urgent call to the government of the Dominican Republic to dismiss Rosendo Arsenio Borges, the neighboring island nation’s current consul general in Puerto Rico, citing what he described as a “clear lack of commitment, complete absence of action, and failure to support” Dominicans affected by recent immigration raids.

Arsenio Borges did not answer requests for comment.

Aguasvivas on Monday condemned the consul’s inaction during what he characterized as aggressive raids, indiscriminate detentions, and alleged abuses by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The community leader asserted that Borges has not appeared to provide moral support, legal assistance, guidance, or any institutional presence for families impacted by the crackdown.

He further criticized the consulate’s silence and noted that no emergency summit has been convened with the immigrant community, nor have there been meetings with Puerto Rico’s governor or the creation of a special protection committee for Dominicans residing on the island.

While acknowledging that the Dominican community respects the U.S. government’s sovereign right to enforce immigration policies, Aguasvivas denounced what he called “abuses, intimidation, and mistreatment of hardworking families” allegedly being used as a campaign tactic to discourage migration. The actions, he said, have “crossed all boundaries of humanity.”

Since early 2025, Puerto Rico has seen an unprecedented surge in immigration enforcement under directives from Washington. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations office in San Juan has adopted aggressive tactics, including surprise raids at workplaces, hotels and construction sites, as well as door-to-door operations targeting individuals with deportation orders. Officials estimate that about 20,000 people live without legal status on the island, and nearly 1,000 immigrants have been detained this year, with fewer than 12% having criminal records. According to previous reports, three-quarters of those arrested are Dominican nationals, reflecting the community’s vulnerability in Puerto Rico, where Dominicans have long been integral to the local economy and culture.

Critics say the raids often involve racial profiling and deceptive tactics, leaving families terrified and disrupting schools, clinics and workplaces. Because Puerto Rico lacks permanent detention facilities, detainees are flown to the U.S. mainland, separating them from their families and legal counsel. Local advocacy groups have launched hotlines and legal aid programs to respond to what they describe as a humanitarian crisis.